ruthless; jj m.

6

I headed to Heyward's fish shop to pick up some things for my uncle. When I walked in, I saw Pope, Kie, and JJ. They were talking about last night's fight but JJ stopped speaking when he saw me. "Hey," I said as I walked up to him.

"Scarlett! What can I get you?" Pope asked. He was more comfortable around me now which made me happy. I handed him a list my Uncle made for me. "Whatever all this shit is. I know nothing about fish." I admitted. He nodded and looked around for me.

"You doing okay?" JJ asked me as he looked at my face, wondering where all my marks had gone. "Makeup," I said as I pointed to my face with a smile. "But yeah, I'm doing as well as I can," I said as I stood next to him. "Hey, so I just wanted--" JJ started to speak but was cut off by Mr. Heyward.

"Hey, Pope. Someone here to see you." Heyward looked at his son concerningly as Officer Shoupe entered the store. "Evening, Officer," Pope said politely. "I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property." Shoupe said as he approached Pope.

"Topper pressed charges?" I whispered to myself. "Hands where I can see 'em," Shoupe said as he got closer to Pope. "Hands on the counter where I can see 'em," Shoupe repeated. Pope looked back at JJ as JJ mouthed, "Just do it."

Pope obliged as he handcuffed Pope. "Shoupe, what'd he do?" Mr. Heyward asked. "Look at the warrant," Shoupe said rudely. "You're arresting him?" Kie asked. "You're just arresting my boy?" Heyward asked.

"Shoupe, do you really have to do this?" I asked him. He ignored me. We all started questioning Shoupe as he read Pope his rights. "How much did they pay you, man?" JJ asked as we followed Pope out of the store.

Pope looked terrified, and I wished I could help him, but there wasn't much to do. JJ approached Shoupe in a confrontational manner and Shoupe pushed him away. "J, calm down," I said to him. He listened and relaxed a bit.

"It wasn't him!" JJ shouted. We all looked at him. "It was me," JJ said. "JJ stop," I said to him. "This isn't something you can just take the fall for, this is a felony charge," I said seriously. He looked at me and shook his head as he walked towards Shoupe.

"He tried to talk me out of it, but I was mad because he'd just been beaten up." JJ said. Kie looked at him confused as did Pope and I. "I was so sick of those assholes from Figure Eight that I lost my shit." JJ said as he turned to look at Pope.

"I can't let you take the blame for something I did. You've got too much to lose." JJ said. "JJ, what're you doing," Pope asked him. "I'm telling the truth. For once in my goddamn life, I'm gonna tell the truth." JJ said as he looked at Shoupe.

"I took his old man's boat, too." He said. "What the hell?" Heyward questioned him. "JJ, come on," Pope said. "Just shut up, Pope!" JJ shouted at him. "He's a good kid. You know where I'm from." JJ said.

I shook my head as I pushed my hair out of my face. "This was all me," JJ said. "That's the whole truth?" Shoupe asked Pope. "Whole truth, swear to God," JJ said. "I know what you think, damn it. I'm asking Pope here." Shoupe said.

Pope nodded after contemplating for a few seconds. "Yeah, that about covers it." Shoupe uncuffed Pope and placed the cuffs on JJ. He placed JJ in the car and before closing the door, he shot me a wink. My hands fell into my face as Shoupe closed the door and drove off.

∴∴∴∴∴

My aunt and uncle reminded me of a big event at the Island club that was happening tonight: Midsummers. They had arranged for me to walk in with Kelce and even though we had just broken up, and my aunt and uncle were aware of that, they still made me be his date.

I didn't exactly fight them on it because I wanted to speak with Kelce and apologize. I felt terrible for hurting him but I wasn't hurting without him. Kelce had told me he loved me on several occasions but I never said it back. We were in a loveless relationship. Only one of us had feelings for the other, and the other was too afraid to love.